PUBLIC TRANSIT: The MTA will shut down all subway, bus, and commuter railroad service at 7 PM, Sunday. Services will resume 12 hours after the hurricane has passed NYC. For the latest information visit http://alert.mta.info

SCHOOLS: All NYC public schools will be closed Monday, October 29. A decision will be made Monday afternoon about Tuesday. Visit www.nyc.gov for updates.

This storm is changing quickly and this morning Mayor Bloomberg ordered a mandatory evacuation of Zone A and other low-lying coastal areas is necessary. This means that everyone in these areas must leave and go somewhere outside the evacuation zone.

In addition, New York City schools will be closed tomorrow.

Hurricane Sandy continues to be a dangerous storm. Storm surges are predicted to reach 6 to 11 feet which would result in flooding in these areas beginning tomorrow morning. We expect the peak of this surge will take place from late Monday into early Tuesday, and flooding continue throughout Tuesday. We also expect that gale force winds will commence around sunset this evening.

I would like to take this opportunity notify the community regarding the forecasted hurricane which may affect the area early next week. I am currently reviewing our hurricane contingency plan and I am closely monitoring the forecast for updates regarding potential safety issues, storm surges and potential property damage.

Residents in low-lying areas such as Manhattan Beach and Gerritsen Beach should be especially cautious and begin planning for possible extreme weather conditions and/or flooding.

For Klara Zubutova, her monthly pension from the German government was a small token of respect, after all she’d been through.

As a young girl, Klara was detained at a concentration camp. But she survived, and she lives today in Brighton Beach. As a Holocaust survivor, Klara is entitled to regular pension payments from the German government. These pensions are not subject to taxation, for obvious reasons.

Now that all of the votes have been counted and a mandatory recount has taken place, I want to extend my congratulations to David Storobin on his long-awaited victory in the special election for the 27th Senate District. This victory is a credit to the grass roots campaign he ran and shows that Brooklyn residents are ready to make a fresh, new start.

I expect David to be a strong voice on their behalf and our partner in controlling spending, reducing taxes and helping businesses create new jobs.

I know that Senator-elect Storobin will be a valuable addition to the New York State Senate, and I welcome him to our chamber.